[Wayne 962]

Hmmm, my 74S motor runs pretty cool in my 914; I would recommend an external oil cooler, but I wouldn't think it absolutely required.

The key problem with the 2.7L motors is the magnesium case. This case is a pain in the butt, as it warps, lets studs pull out, and is generally not as durable as the earlier cases. If you were to make the best 2.7 motor that you could, I would ditch the mag case, and put the internals into an aluminum 2.2 or 2.0L case. This is what most racers do. This is, of course, only if you are rebuilding the entire motor, and good early cases can be difficult to find (although I hear that they are still available from Germany for the tune of about $2K).

The 3.0L engine has more lower end torque, but not a lot more HP than the 2.7S. Get a 3.0L if you can, or a 2.4. Otherwise, be prepared to rebuild the engine. Also, don't do a top-end rebuild without installing the time serts for the head studs - they will pull out...

-Wayne